Avg free virus protection doesnt load at start up

Hi
My Free AVG doesnt load at startup like it normally did.
Its Icon is usually down bottom right near the clock but in the last 2 days I havent seen it there.
Am I still protected?

Hello Joseph,
Thank you for contacting us. It is not the case that AVG anti virus program will protect your PC only when it is opened. AVG will load all the necessary and scan modules immediately after you boot up your PC. Each component is designed to monitor all the running processes, files that you access and the to and fro communications from internet to your PC and alert you when they find something harmful to your PC. It is not required for you to manually open the AVG program to do this.
Please, feel free to let us know if you require any further assistance. Thank you.

Im not sure, but I think my AVG free virus protection isn't being loaded at start up. I usually access it by clicking on the system icon down in the task bar. It is never there now since I have re-installed the 2016 version. It will open when I click it from the start menu but I'm wondering, if it has to be manual started each time when I open windows. So my question is, does the free version load at start up automatically or do I have to open it each time? Also can it be set up to open automatically and if so, how do I set that up?

Hello Philip,
We are sorry to know that you are unable to see the AVG icon in your system tray. This issue can happen, if the AVG program is not up to date in your computer. We suggest you to update the AVG program and let us know the version of AVG installed in your computer. After you update AVG, please restart the computer and check if you see the system tray icon of AVG.
Thank you

What is going on with AVG lately?! My PC still has the system tray icon but has the new annoying menu that doesn't have the update option. But now my notebook (also Windows 10) all of a sudden doesn't seem to load the AVG system tray icon at all, not hidden, just not there. I have to open AVG via the desktop shortcut if I want to access it or run an update.

@ Steve Smyth
Steve, If  applicable… For your info, just in case that you are unaware, you can post the screenshot here in the topic. Click on 'Answer' & then click on the 'Image' [mountain symbol] & follow the instructions. 
AVG Guru

Hi
My Free AVG doesnt load at startup like it normally did.
Its Icon is usually down bottom right near the clock but in the last 2 days I havent seen it there.
Am I still protected?

Hello Joseph,
Thank you for contacting us. It is not the case that AVG anti virus program will protect your PC only when it is opened. AVG will load all the necessary and scan modules immediately after you boot up your PC. Each component is designed to monitor all the running processes, files that you access and the to and fro communications from internet to your PC and alert you when they find something harmful to your PC. It is not required for you to manually open the AVG program to do this.
Please, feel free to let us know if you require any further assistance. Thank you.